From Animal Size Discoveries to Colobus Monkey Egalitarianism with Kaia Tombak

In her research, Dr. Kaia Tombak has challenged long-held assumptions in evolutionary biology, such as the idea that male mammals are always larger than females.

As she describes it, there is a significant proportion of animal species in which males and females are typically the same size, or where females are larger. And this is just one of the discoveries she has made as a biologist, through work in the field and at universities, across Africa and North America.

In this episode of EstoCast, hear about:

🦓the technology Kaia has used to photograph and analyze the movements of zebras

🐒the egalitarian societies of red colobus monkeys in Uganda

🌅humans as an integrated part of the animal kingdom

🦈and much more!

Things mentioned in this episode:

-Dr. Kaia Tombak’s website: https://www.kaiatombak.com/

-Kaia’s work in the Kenyan savannah: https://www.wired.com/story/scientists-reexamine-why-zebra-stripes-mysteriously-repel-flies

-a video about Kaia’s study of sharks in South Africa: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gjoP32oIUm0

-Eesti Elu’s interview with Kaia’s parents about their work around the world: https://eestielu.ca/nadala-portree-leena-tiismann-ja-mihkel-tombak-edukad-karjaarid-mitmes-riigis-pereelu-ning-uhendav-eestlus/

-zoonotic diseases: https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/zoonotic-diseases

-how wildlife filmmakers use camera traps: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=etC6rD5Emkc

-zebra stripe recognition technology: https://www.audubon.org/news/new-technology-identifies-zebras-their-stripes

-sexual size dimorphism as investigated by Dr. Tombak: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-024-45739-5

-Rwenzori Mountains National Park, Uganda: https://www.rwenzorimountainsnationalpark.com/

-Rayleigh scattering, which affects the colour we perceive when looking at the sky: https://natural-resources.canada.ca/maps-tools-publications/satellite-elevation-air-photos/interactions-atmosphere

-loons in Ontario and the issues affecting them: https://www.thelandbetween.ca/2021/01/are-we-losing-the-loons/

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